Gilas Pilipinas has called up a pair of reinforcements to serve as extra bodies for its training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
Concurrent program director and team manager Alfrancis Chua said that they are bringing in RJ Abarrientos and Ralph Cu as the national squad is managing the load of some key cogs in preparation for a hectic schedule ahead.
The training camp is set to begin Tuesday before they leave for Qatar on February 13 for the 2nd Doha International Cup, marking the start of a grueling road trip that ends with the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers’ third window.
“Paaakyatin namin si Cu tsaka si Abarrientos,” Chua told reporters Monday shortly after the PBA’s 50th anniversary logo reveal at Cignal Launchpad.
“Para sa ensayo makumpleto lang habang nagpapahinga ‘yung iba, para pagdating sa actual game medyo OK na sila,” he added.
(C) PBA Images
Among those that Gilas is playing it smart with is Troy Rosario, whose knee got swollen during the recent Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals in which Ginebra beat Meralco in a best-of-3 series that went the distance.
Another one is Justin Brownlee, who, according to Chua, sustained blisters on his foot during the same series, which finished Sunday in Antipolo.
“‘Yung iba magpapahinga katulad si Troy kasi ‘yung tuhod. Si Brownlee actually naglaro ‘to kahapon may blisters sa paa,” said the Kings’ team governor, who’s also serving as the league’s vice chairman. “Pagpapahingahin muna namin.”
Chua, though, clarified that Cu and Abarrientos will only join Gilas in Inspire just to make sure that they can run practices with complete pieces.
The SMC sports director also disclosed that overseas players AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, and Dwight Ramos are set to arrive Monday night.
Carl Tamayo, on the other hand, will rejoin Gilas in Doha.
